Wendy Greuel website attacking Eric Garcetti goes dark

A website attacking Los Angeles mayoral candidate Eric Garcetti as a privileged, out-of-touch politician was recently launched by the Wendy Greuel campaign, but then taken down Tuesday after the Daily News asked about the site.

The "Garcetti Fail" site ridicules the councilman, calling him "Prince Eric" and displaying doctored images of him wearing a gold crown.

"Before you vote for Mayor of Los Angeles, you need to know the whole truth about Eric Garcetti," the site reads. "From a prominent L.A. political family, Eric Garcetti thinks the rules don't apply to him. Dig in, dive in, and get the real story. "

There was no public announcement about the launch of the site and it's unclear when it went online. But it was taken down immediately after the Daily News asked the Greuel campaign about the site, and a password system was put in place, making the pages inaccessible. The paper discovered the site while doing a routine Google search.

The website's address contains the word "demo," raising questions about whether the site was supposed to be launched publicly yet.

The new site is the latest broadside against Garcetti by Greuel, who has stepped up her attacks against the councilman since rebooting her campaign last month. Last week, she challenged Garcetti to a debate on education with two hours notice, while she's also launched a new line of attack against City Hall leadership.

One portion of the new "Garcetti Fail" website attacks Garcetti's ties to a Beverly Hills oil company, while another section criticizes him for backing budget cuts to the Fire Department. Garcetti's lack of a vote on a children's museum in Lake View Terrace - which received money from the Department of Water and Power - is also taken to task. And his stance on the parent-trigger law is slammed.

Another section is dedicated to the topic "Eric Garcetti is Not True to his Word," while Garcetti is also cast as a wealthy politician who doesn't care about his constituents.

"Eric Garcetti is a trust fund kid who never had to work a day in his life - and is a millionaire several times over," the site states.

On Wednesday, the Greuel campaign didn't explain why it took down the site, but Greuel consultant John Shallman defended its content.

He said in a statement that "voters deserve to know the truth about Eric Garcetti's failed leadership."

"While Garcetti was President of the City Council, he ignored Controller Greuel's audits and failed to stop waste at City Hall," Shallman said. "He voted to cut the fire department and close libraries and took trips around the world at taxpayer expense. "

Shallman also said Garcetti launched a negative website, called "Wendy's Numbers Don't Add Up," challenging Greuel's claims of finding $160 million in savings through her audits.

"It's hypocritical for Eric Garcetti to criticize the Wendy Greuel campaign for having a negative website since he has been promoting his own negative website against Wendy since before the primary," Shallman said.

Media reports have also questioned Greuel's $160 million figure.

On Wednesday, Garcetti spokesman Jeff Millman said there was as difference between the two websites.

"Our website used fact checking," Millman said. "This is a site designed for personal, harsh attacks. "

Millman said "Garcetti Fail" was launched to "distract voters from the fact that Greuel's campaign is bankrolled by the DWP union super PAC, which has spent more than $2 million to buy the mayor's race for her. "

Responding to Shallman's criticisms over the Fire Department cuts, Millman said that as a city councilwoman, Greuel also voted to cut the Fire Department's budget in 2009. He also said Greuel has taken publicly funded trips during her time in office.